Demonstrators hold up signs during a 'Hands Off!' protest against President Donald Trump at the Washington Monument on April 5.Jose Luis Magana/The Canadian Press
Thousands of people poured into the streets of Washington and other U.S. cities Saturday to protest President Donald Trump’s actions to overhaul the government and wage a trade war against the rest of the world.
The protesters, gathered on the grounds of the National Mall, also denounced Mr. Trump’s threats to annex sovereign countries, including Canada, and directed their anger at billionaire Elon Musk’s efforts to purge the government as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency.
The gathering was part of the so-called Hands Off! demonstrations organized in 50 states by about 150 groups, including civil rights organizations, labour unions, LBGTQ+ advocates, veterans and elections activists.
In Washington, people held signs that called Mr. Trump “Putin’s puppet,” and likened him to a dictator. Other signs said “hands off free speech” and “hands off democracy.” Another said: “Tariffs are taxes on your grocery bills – Canada.”
Some protesters held Ukrainian flags, or draped them around their shoulders, while others wore Palestinian keffiyeh scarves and carried “Free Palestine” signs. There were also signs supporting immigrants and trans rights.
Demonstrators take part in a 'Hands Off!' protest against U.S. President Donald Trump and his advisor Elon Musk, in Los Angeles on Saturday.Daniel Cole/Reuters
Peter Martz, 74 and his wife Marianne, held signs that said: “Canada belongs to Canada, Greenland belongs to Greenland, Panama belongs to Panama, Trump belongs in Jail.”
Mr. Martz said he came to the protest to support federal workers, who are losing their jobs, as well as Medicare and Medicaid. “We’re here for American rights,” he said.
“It’s endless,” Ms. Martz said, referring to actions of Mr. Trump’s administration. “We have to live under this but we’re letting him know it won’t stand.”
The Department of Government Efficiency, otherwise known as DOGE, is undertaking mass firings of federal workers affecting a wide range of departments and agencies.
Ms. Martz said the firings are disheartening and cruel. “It wasn’t thoughtful. It was arbitrary,” her husband added.
Several speakers took the stage throughout the afternoon, but were often drowned out by chanting crowds.
Democrat Congressman Jamie Raskin, who represents Maryland, told the crowd that “no moral person wants an economy-crashing dictator who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.”
Blanche Aaron, who attended the protest with her husband Dave, held a sign that said “hands off my” with photo of a beaver holding a Canadian flag and “hands off Canada too.” The other side of her sign said: “hands off women’s reproductive care.”
The Aarons are dual Canadian-U.S. citizens and have been considering a return to Canada. They live in Delaware but travelled to Washington for the protest.
When asked what brought them here, Ms. Aaron said her sign was not big enough to list all the reasons.
“We are losing our democracy, you know, we really are before our very eyes,” she said. “I think it’s dire.”
Janet Major, 66, shared that sentiment. “It’s actually hard to make a sign because there’s so many terrible things,” she said.
“I’m heartsick about the whole Canada thing and I’m broken hearted. I mean I have a lot of rage, mostly I’m sad because we’ve had a good relationship with Canada for so long,” she said, adding that Mr. Trump’s rhetoric about Greenland is “insane” as is what he’s said about buying Gaza. “And that’s just the global things.”
She pointed to the National Museum of African American History. “He’s gutting that. I went to the opening day of that,” she said.
“All we can do is show up,” she said, adding that she and others call the switchboards of their representatives, leave messages, and do whatever they can to pressure them.
Ms. Major said she believes when people notice the impact of the tariffs, people who supported Mr. Trump may “jump ship.”
The rallies appeared peaceful, and there were no immediate reports of arrests.
Mr. Trump spent the day in Florida, playing a round of golf at his club in Jupiter before returning to his Mar-a-Lago compound in the afternoon.
Anti-Trump protests also took place in European cities Saturday, including in Berlin, Frankfurt, Paris and London.
– With a report from Reuters